Dr Karan Rajan said these at-home solutions do not replace visiting your local doctor if needing to get help and advice
A doctor has urged people not to be drawn into at-home medical tests you can buy alongside your weekly shop. He said “legitimate” medics won’t accept what a supermarket test claims.
Dr Karan Rajan felt compelled to speak out after a TikTok video showed a Tesco customer browsing the range of tests that claim to deliver results in minutes. The kits, priced from £10, covered several conditions with tests for strep, UTIs, and HIV.
Speaking on Instagram, the NHS surgeon said anyone who was considering these “could be gambling with [their] health.” He pointed out that these accessible kits should not replace a visit to the doctor if you’re worried.
He said: “These [tests] are often not as specific or sensitive as the ones used in a professional healthcare setting, leading to an abundance of false positives. This causes you unnecessary anxiety and leads to you chasing unwanted, invasive procedures.
“On the other hand, you can also get more false negatives, leading to false reassurance and a delay in medical evaluation. Ultimately, all of these tests still need professional interpretation.”
He went on to claim that patients who take these tests and get good news shouldn’t assume “everything is fine.” The doctor said that you shouldn’t ignore any persisting red flags that you may have the condition – or something else entirely.
Dr Rajan added: “If you still have the symptoms, I [as a doctor] might want you to have further investigations to find out what the diagnosis is. These tests just feed into people’s health anxieties for profit.”
He pointed out possible problems with the hormone and cholesterol tests being sold, claiming the results depend on the individual patient and a one-size-fits-all test won’t work for everyone.
For example, anyone on cholesterol-lowering medication like statins may not be deemed ‘normal’ by the box test’s standards. Also, anyone testing their FSH hormone levels should be aware that the amount will vary throughout the month depending on the position of the menstrual cycle you’re in – meaning the same person could test a day apart and get different results.
Dr Rajan added: “No legitimate healthcare professional is going to accept the results of a test you bought in the supermarket and then base their medical treatment on it. You’ll just end up getting a repeat, high-quality test from a clinic or hospital so you don’t end up saving you time or money.”
You should see a doctor if you notice new, unexplained, or unusual symptoms, or your symptoms aren’t going away. You should make an appointment if you are suffering with any recurring problems that aren’t getting better with self-care.
You should generally have a check-up with your GP at least once a year, even if you feel healthy. Your GP can advise you on the appropriate frequency based on your health status.
